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August 2005
volume1, issue 2
We are excited to share this newsletter with you. Within this page, we hope you find information that will be useful to you in your ministry. Please feel free to share this page with friends and colleagues.
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send them to: berickso@gcts.edu.
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We should want it to be said of us, what the great South African writer, Alan Paton (1903-1988), said of a pastor: "He is the Lord's...dog,...not fierce, but faithful."
"Pastor" means "shepherd," but we should never confuse our role with that of the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for the sheep. We are his sheepdog, so we need to be attentive and obedient to his direction. He alone knows the needs of the whole flock. He alone can meet the needs of the whole flock. Our role is important, but limited.
A keen ear and a sharp eye are far more valuable than a loud bark and a strong bite. While there are times when a good sheepdog must give a straying sheep a nip or two to bring it back into the flock, watch that we never develop a taste for blood, which would make us no different from a wolf. We need to remember the words of the Lord's preeminent sheepdog, the Apostle Paul: "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." (Philippians 4:5)
And we need to carry with us this blessing as we work in our canine ministries:
"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back
from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything
good for doing his will. And may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus
Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21)
Dave Currie
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"Well, I guess you could say that I'm a glutton for punishment..." said Peter Kamakawiwoole as he began to explain why he was beginning his second Doctor of Ministry degree at Gordon-Conwell.
What would lead a busy pastor with a growing church and a growing family to travel all the way from Hawaii to New England to earn another DMin? Especially when he knows how much time and effort are involved in completing doctoral coursework and a thesis project! It has to be something more than being called "Dr. Kamakawiwoole" since he can already be called that. Dr. David Currie, Gordon-Conwell's DMin Director, sat down with Peter during his residency at the Hamilton campus to find out more.
Peter's first DMin wasn't his first Gordon-Conwell degree. After graduating from college in May of 1985, Peter began considering where he should further his education. He had sensed a call to pastoral ministry and consulted his parents on where he might prepare for this call. "I had lived and studied all my life in Hawaii, so my parents encouraged me to go someplace completely different." He had been impressed by the Biblical preaching of a former pastor, Richard Weisenbach, who was a GCTS graduate. So four days after his wedding, Peter and his new wife Rhonda drove cross-country to begin a life in Hamilton, Massachusetts. While the geography and climate may have been a quite a change for Peter, he found the spiritual and educational commitments he was looking for that would equip him to become an effective pastor.
After graduating with his M.Div. in 1988, Peter began his pastoral ministry as an Associate in Christian Education and Worship at a church in Honolulu. He spent five years in this position, gaining practical experience in ministry and forming a more clear idea of what he wanted to study more deeply. He enrolled in the "Renewing Congregations Through Family Systems" DMin track taught by Professors Royce Gruenler and Ray Pendleton. Peter was particularly interested in exploring intergenerational Bible studies -- how to bring families and singles together around God's Word.
Peter admits that being so far from his own family for the two-week residencies was tough in that pre-cell phone age, but he felt it was worth it. Then the Lord brought relief to this strain, as Peter's wife began to sense a growing call to pursue seminary studies in Christian Education. "I couldn't think of any other place that I would entrust my wife's theological education to than Gordon-Conwell."
With that, Peter and his wife packed up their four kids, then ages 6, 4, 4, & 3 and moved from Hawaii back to Massachusetts. "People thought we were crazy!" But the Lord knew the plans He had for the Kamakawiwooles. He opened up a position for Peter as Minister for Christian Education and Youth in a local church while his wife pursued her studies from 1994-96.
Peter continued working on his DMin, now with a much shorter commute. During one residency he shared a case study about some struggles he was having with his home church in Hawaii. Under the leadership of the faculty mentors, the group provided Peter with much needed understanding and support, and a broader and deeper sense of perspective about what the Lord was doing in that situation. His cohort also provided helpful support as he worked out how to do ministry in a very different context after moving to New England.
Peter's DMin thesis-project, "FISH: Families In Search of Him - Intergenerational Bible Studies for Families and Churches," enabled him to explore more fully the dynamics of different generations learning together and to develop a practical tool to implement his conclusions into his ministry. Peter has used this tool in the churches that he has served subsequently. He has also had many opportunities to teach his particular approach of viewing a congregation as a whole to eager audiences in both the broader church community and colleges of Hawaii. Peter also discovered unexpected benefits at home from his studies: "We discovered greater meaning as a family and developed a sense of calling as a family."
After Peter and his wife graduated in 1996, they returned to Hawaii. Peter was called back to his home church, Kalihi Union Church, as Associate Pastor for Christian Education and Maturity Ministry. In 2001 he was made Executive Pastor, and in 2002 he was called as Senior Pastor.
Serving as head of staff and primary preacher demanded new skills and expertise. Around the end of 2004 and the beginning of 2005, Peter started sensing a growing desire to do another DMin. "I knew that I needed a context to encourage further study and development to meet the challenges of my ministry. I also knew that I would be 'too busy' to do this exclusively on my own."
Peter shared his desire to pursue a second DMin with one of his elders, who responded: "Anything that helps you build this church, we should get behind." Despite being short-staffed, the church's leadership strongly encouraged Peter to take the time away needed for additional study. His wife and family were also highly supportive despite the pain of separation. A decade of improving technology has made the time apart more bearable: "Praise the Lord for cell phones!" says Peter.
For his second DMin Peter chose the track, "Pastoral Skills for the 21st Century." He felt this course of study would help him better fulfill the more generalized and varied responsibilities of a senior pastor. In his first residency, Peter studied preaching with Distinguished Professor of Preaching, Haddon Robinson. Dr. Robinson's class confirmed his desire to preach in a multi-generational context. "It is a topic I had been wrestling with prior to the DMin program. This program would enable me to study and apply my discoveries in my current context," said Peter. Since his current congregation has four generations from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, he's been struggling with how to more effectively reach them as a whole. "If I'm called to feed and tend lambs and sheep, then I need to know the best ways to nourish each part of the flock from God's Word."
Peter also welcomes the time to get away from the immediate pressures of ministry, to have the opportunity to regularly think, rest, pray, and reflect with colleagues and mentors about the challenges and promising possibilities within his ministry. He knows how easy it is to become stale in ministry. Doing a DMin is a way to keep fresh and serve Christ. Peter used a sound effect to articulate his mindset about his DMin studies: "'Doctor' means 'Drrrrrrrr' unless it's used to extend Christ's Kingdom."
When asked why he chose Gordon-Conwell again for his DMin, Peter listed a number of reasons: "The quality of the professors… Being in a unique part of the country with its own strong sense of history and culture that is very different from where I'm ministering in Hawaii… The camaraderie with colleagues in the cohort approach… The surprising insights God brings from hearing from like-minded folks in other parts of the country and the world…"
Peter Kamakawiwoole's relationship with Gordon-Conwell and with the DMin program is exceptional. Most students won't be crossing as many time zones or returning as many times. However, Peter's exceptional experience can inform everyone's approach to a Doctor of Ministry at Gordon-Conwell.
If you're a current student, you can be encouraged by how his residencies and thesis-project
have enriched his ministry in the long-term and gain motivation to continue working
hard to complete your degree. If you're a graduate, you can be challenged to continue
learning and growing, perhaps by taking advantage of the many excellent resources
the Ockenga Institute has to offer. Or who knows, maybe there's a second DMin in your
future!
Dave Currie
(as an editorial note, Peter Kamakawiwoole is the second student to begin his second DMin with Gordon-Conwell. Victor Price is now working in the Marriage & Family Counseling track, after having completed the Spiritual Renewal in a Family of God track in 2002.)
If you have identified a trend you would like to highlight for future issues, please
e-mail berickso@gcts.edu and in the subject
line, write trends. We are looking for students like you to tell us what is
going on in your area of ministry - what seems to be a trend and how you are working
with that trend.
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I was moved and deeply impressed by the sign and picture I saw on a cardboard box
in the foyer of a Baptist church in Mineapolis. The sign read, "Tim Lindbloom's
Prayer Ministry." The picture was of a young man in a wheelchair, wearing a helmet
-- apparently the victim of cerebral palsy. There was a slot in the top of the box
for people to insert prayer requests. There was also a note that said, "I only
ask that you let me know what happens." What work could this young man possibly
do with his limitations? He could patiently endure, and he could pray -- especially
pray. The only hints he might have that he was getting something done was to hear
what had happened from those for whom he prayed -- a special fellowship, and a special
reward.
Ben Patterson, Serving God: The Grand Essentials of Work and Worship
(Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 76.
If you have an illustration or quote you would like to share as noteworthy, please
submit to berickso@gcts.edu and in the subject
line, write illustrations.
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by Kenneth L. Swetland Professor of Ministry and Pastoral Counselor on Campus
Pastors face "messy stuff" in the course of daily ministry, due of course, to the fact that churches are made up of sinners whose lives are broken-sometimes because of their own choices, sometimes because of experiencing wrongs outside of their control. Often these human problems are not easily resolved.
One way of helping pastors know how to deal with such problems is to read and discuss actual cases where real problems are encountered. My book Facing Messy Stuff in the Church: Case Studies for Pastors and Congregations (Kregel, 2005) contains 14 case studies dealing with a variety of messy problems faced by pastors (including depression, pornography, divorce, suicide, AIDS, spouse abuse, adultery, child molestation, and abortion). Although the stories are true, they are not resolved in the book, necessitating the reader to ponder what he or she would do if faced with this situation. Discussion questions are included at the end of each chapter to aid in this process.
Students in the Pastoral Skills track in the pastoral counseling residency this past June used the cases for discussions each afternoon to enhance their own counseling ministry. Here are some of their testimonies.
Scary and great! A realistic book with a distinct challenge of facing the issues that often hover just below the surface. I valued looking at the issues in the straight forward realism that Dr. Swetland presented them before I face these issue in the reality of everyday ministry. Bruce Dykstra, Pastor
This book will make you angry, sad, and uncomfortable. It will confront you with hard questions about the church and how we face the hard issues of our world. If you want to check the church block every week and live a comfortable faith, don't read this book. If you don't care about the hurt and pain behind the smiles of those you shake hands with on Sunday, this is not the book for you. However, if you think that church is more than this, and that the gospel offers hope and healing in the midst of brokenness, then read. And as you read, ask yourself, "Could this be talking about a friend or loved one I know? Could this be me? What am I doing about it?" LCDR Brian Haley, U.S. Navy Chaplain
Take a moment to review the schedule of upcoming cohorts. Let us know if you would like us to send information to anyone you know.
Gordon-Conwell is pleased to announce a new Doctor of Ministry track entitled Global Church-Based Theological Education, offered in October 2005 in conjunction with BILD (Biblical Institute for Leadership Development). Seminary faculty Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. and Dr. Gary Parrett, along with Ted Ward and Jeff Reed of BILD, will be teaching in this track. Click here for more information!
The DMin office is pleased to announce a new track entitled Biblical Worship: Weaving Word, Wonder and Witness, beginning May 2006. This track seeks to equip students to nurture worship that flows out from Scripture and evangelical theology, that is filtered through familiarity with a range of historical worship traditions, and that fits the particular contexts where students will be leading worship. Dr. David Currie and Dr. Gary Parrett will be the faculty mentors for this exciting new offering. Click here for more information!
Also, take a moment to see where we will be over
the next few months. Maybe you can join us!
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Featured here are links to websites that have proven to be a useful resource for ministry. Also featured here are subjects for research and good topics for thesis-projects. For example, wouldn't it be nice if there were a curriculum developed for teaching homiletics in India? If you have anything that you would like to add to this section, please submit it to berickso@gcts.edu and in the subject line, write links.
www.ministrylist.com - Gordon-Conwell's online source for ministry jobs and candidates.
InscriptiFact is an image database filled with facts, inscriptions, and artifacts
pertaining to the Near Eastern and Mediterranean worlds with particular focus on Northwest
Semitic inscriptions. The images are primarily taken from the archives of West Semitic
Research, including in excess of 7,500 high resolution images, to be expanded to 20,000
images by the end of 2005. Among texts available now on "InscriptiFact" are: Northwest
Semitic monumental inscriptions in Phoenician, Aramaic, Ammonite, and Moabite, Egyptian
Aramaic papyri from Elephantine and elsewhere, Dead Sea Scrolls from Jordan Various
ostraca in Northwest Semitic, Various seals in Northwest Semitic, Egyptian scarabs
from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Early photographs of Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions
and Assorted cuneiform tablets.
In order to gain more information and to get instructions for obtaining a password,
see: http://www.inscriptifact.com/.
PulpitTalk is an Audio Journal on Developing Preaching Excellence. Check out this wonderful resource, on sale for half price right now!
Students can receive a $10 discount to SermonClips.com by emailing contactus@sermonclips.com and placing "Gordon" in subject line. The site offers downloadable Movie Clip files for use with PowerPoint and other programs that safely and legally work with their software to automate Movie Clips for your sermons or lessons. Membership also features time saving help such as custom clips. There is also a Free 14 day trial.
Check out www.e-sword.net for free Bible software.
The BookCentre is pleased to announce that we have fall textbooks, Semlink texts,
and faculty publications available for purchase online! Simply go to www.gordonconwell.edu,
and follow the prompts from the homepage... it's an easy and efficient way to obtain
your books for your next residency! Your books may be purchased via credit card, and
they can be sent to you, or picked up at the BookCentre. We're excited about this
new way to serve the Gordon-Conwell community, both near and far... check us out on
the web!!
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Check out what is happening with your colleagues around the world by clicking here. If you have any news you would like to share, please contact us at berickso@gcts.edu and in the subject line, write news.
Also, if you have any prayer requests you would like us to share, please contact us at berickso@gcts.edu and in the subject line, write prayer requests.
On July 4, 2005, Mike Holt (The Preacher & The Message, May 2005) went home to the Lord. He leaves behind his wife, Deborah, and son, Brian.
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